Using a short shaft motor

[atvaholic]

Hi, would it be possible to use a short shaft motor on my 12 foot zodiac? The manual recomends a 35 HP longshaft. I am looking a very small trolling motor 2 horsepower, 2 stroke. Since this would never get up on plane, would this be ok to use? I understand this wont go too fast, just want it for trolling around some small lakes.

[Terry]

I use a "kicker" motor on my boat and it is too short..never had a problem with it

so I don't see any real problem with you doing it

[Fisherman]

Like Terry said, no real problem, but if the prop doesn't sit below the bottom of the Zodiac, you're not going to get a lot of forward motion, just thrashing water around at the back.

[irishfield]

Like Terry said, no real problem, but if the prop doesn't sit below the bottom of the Zodiac, you're not going to get a lot of forward motion, just thrashing water around at the back.

 

Kinda like a Shih Tzu on 80 lb test...

[Rizzo]

just make sure the water intake area on the shaft is submerged and that the boat is "peeing". Somtimes at slow speeds when the engine sits lower in the water it will be fine, but as you get up on a plane you might melt it if the engine can't suck up water to cool itself

[Fisherman]

just make sure the water intake area on the shaft is submerged and that the boat is "peeing". Somtimes at slow speeds when the engine sits lower in the water it will be fine, but as you get up on a plane you might melt it if the engine can't suck up water to cool itself

 

I really don't think he's going t get it up on plane with a 2HP motor.

[Rizzo]

haha..didn't read it too carefully. Pictured something a little bigger than a 2hp

[atvaholic]

Hey guys, all this being said, is a 2001 (approx) yamaha 2 Horsepower 2 stroke a decent engine? A guy has one for sale here and want to go look at it.

[fish_fishburn]

Spend your money on a 15 or 20 and get it over with. Then you have yourself a neet little rig.

[atvaholic]

Spend your money on a 15 or 20 and get it over with. Then you have yourself a neet little rig.

I already have a 9.9 that works great. I just like to have something light to get in those back lakes.

[Fisherman]

Honestly, if it was was a long shaft and you're not in a hurry to cross the pond, fine, but you'd get about as much speed from a portable Sunbeam mixmaster with a short shaft. The prop is not sitting low enough in the water to get a clean bite, it's just thrashing water around behind the transom.

[Uncle Buck]

My 20hp shortshaft pushed my 16' longshaft boat 6mph

 

my 4hp longshaft pushes the boat 5mph...

 

a shortshaft will work terribly on a longhaft boat

[atvaholic]

Hey, I had a look at the motor, seems the condition and price are right. I set up on my boat. Seems to sit low enough..what do you think?

[glen]

that is the correct motor for that boat.

[atvaholic]

that is the correct motor for that boat.

 

Thanks Glen. I hope I can break the 5MPH speed record with it..well see!

[atvaholic]

Thanks Glen. I hope I can break the 5MPH speed record with it..well see!

Hey guys, I tried this out last weekend and it worked just fine. I had to open it up to 3/4 or full throttle to get any speed out of it. I manages to get about 5mp or so with me, the wife and 2 little ones in the inflatable. There was a little chop on the water, so this did ok.

 

1 weird thing that happened. I was cruising at full throttle, then without warning, the motor just stalled. It took me a few pulls to get it started. I was scared to open it up again, as we wer far from shore and didnt want to get us stranded.

 

Anything I should check? Any reason why this might have happened?